Journey 2: The Mysterious Island: THE HTF ADDICT 3D REVIEW (1 Viewer)

What can I say?  I love 3D!  From the moment I began watching 3D content in my home I quickly discovered that I needed more content.  I suspect that those of you just purchasing your first 3D hardware will acquire the same ferocious appetite.  That's why I became the HTF 3D ADDICT.  I personally love images that pop off the screen and come inches away from your face without becoming overly gimmicky.  However, I certainly appreciate the nature documentaries that offer beautiful depth and separation.  These are not necessarily reviews of the film themselves.  I am not going to concentrate on story or supplements -- you can find the 2D reviews elsewhere on this forum.  My job is to let you know exactly what kind of 3D experience to expect from the titles that are being released.   As I will be receiving a handful of new product from the studios expect to see more title coverage.

JOURNEY 2

THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND

Studio: Warner Bros.

Product Release: June 5, 2012

Ratio: 1.85:1

Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD MA; French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Running Time: 94 Minutes

Rating: PG

ON A SCALE 0-5

Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 4

3D Separation: 5

3D In Yo' Face Factor: 4

"So, who's up for an adventure?"

One of the very first peeks at Journey 2: The Mysterious

Island came included on the release of Journey To The 

Center of the Earth Blu-ray earlier this year.  At first, I 

was not exactly certain how these films two films were

related to each other, that is, until I realized the inclusion

of Josh Hutcherson.  Does it really matter if this sequel closely

follows the 2008 film?  No, but I was interested in finding the

relationship nonetheless since the new film doesn't seem to

make reference to the original.

 

I was very optimistic going into this sequel, knowing how 

much I enjoyed the original film starring Brendan Frasier.  

I am also a fan of The Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson), who does

an admirable job in his role here as Hank, a retired military man

trying to bond with his stepson Sean (Josh Hutcherson). The two 

begin a quest to find a Mysterious Island after receiving a mysterious 

coded radio signal from Sean's long-lost uncle (Michael Caine).

Arriving at the island country of Palau, in the South Pacific,

Hank and Sean seek transportation from a helicopter Pilot

(Luis Guzmán) and his daughter Kailani (Vaness Hudgens).  

Both reluctantly agree to take the travelers through the eye of

a storm where they discover a mysterious island filled with 

oversized CGI creatures.

Whereas Journey To The Center of The Earth was a fantastically

fun adventure film with elements of pending danger, Journey

2 has been drastically dumbed down to a family-friendly kiddy

ride.  I should have known that this film was aiming for the 

youngsters when I had to endure watching berries been bounced

off Dwayne Johnson's pulsating pectoral muscles, or later, hearing

him sing and play a ukelele.  

Thankfully, there are a few good laughs to be had on this adventure

thanks to the hilarious banter between Hank (Dwayne Johnson) and

Alexander (Michael Caine).  Now, if only we could have been spared

the obnoxious, unfunny antics of Luis Guzmán, this film would have

moved up a couple notches for me.

The original Journey film took us deep into the bowels of the earth,

while the action in Journey 2 takes place mostly on land, with

distracting, less-than convincing CGI backdrops against the beautifully

real landscape of Oahu, Hawaii.  I was really irked several times while

watching this film at just how unrealistic some of the effects look.  

This may sound rather old-school, but I would much rather watch real

animated model effects than a few of the badly computerized images

that plague this film. One sequence involving a white-throated needle

tailed bird chasing Hutcherson on a flying bee, looked so fake, that

it felt as if the animators were simply rushed to get the job done. The

film's target audience of teens and younger won't seem to mind it all,

but adults will yearn for something better than standard video game 

effects.  Perhaps the most untouched, naturalistic beauty in the entire

film is Vanessa Hudgens.  It's very hard to keep your eyes off of her,

though one may personally come to the conclusion that she's too 

overdressed in her role.  

Fortunately, many of the personal flaws I found within the film

can be forgiven with its overall 3D Blu-ray presentation.  In a 

word, it's stunning.  It's very easy to find yourself absorbed into

the Hawaiian landscape with its vibrant, lush colors.  Wearing

3D eyewear does very little to diminish the visual clarity of the

transfer.  It's as if your display became a picture window where

nothing contradicts the belief that you are watching action taking

place inches before you.  

Using stereoscopic cameras, director Brad Peyton choreographed

and shot this film specifically for the format rather than a rushed

post upconversion.  The results of these efforts are immediately

recognized as the film's environment is perfectly suited for the 3D
format.  With the perfect amount of depth. the viewer really gets

pulled into the beautiful island surroundings.  It's a very natural

3D experience. From foreground to background, the detail in

image remains constantly strong with no blurring whatsoever.

Since careful consideration was given to lensing every scene for

the format, one always gets a keen sense of size, scale and proportion.

The film goes from providing some really nice subtle 3D

effects to become rather blatantly gimmicky. A giant crawling

centipede pokes its antennas outwards.  A spear is lunged 

towards the viewer, as are handfuls of berries.  It's apparent

that the director wants to monopolize on the technology, but

sadly, it falls short of being everything it could be.  This would

have been the perfect film to truly bring objects out of the 

display and inches before the viewer's face.  Instead, anything

thrusted forward either simply punctures the screen or veers

off to the side without breaking any dimensional barriers.  I do

not understand why filmmakers are still playing it too safe with

really making an impact with this format.  

Crosstalk (ghosting) is non-existent except for a single shot

of a spear being lunged towards the viewer.  

Fortunately, to match its beautiful visual impact, the Blu-ray

boasts a demo-quality 5.1 DTS-MA soundtrack.  This is a

highly-aggressive and well-balanced mix that is sure to please.

Dialogue is squarely rooted in the center channel, never becoming

drowned out from the orchestration across the front and rears. The

rears provide a thrilling atmospheric experience of being in the

jungle with the constant sounds of busy insect songs. Walking into

a cave or into a dark hole is always met with eerie noises that pan

across the entire soundstage.  This is a mix that does an excellent

job with directionality, putting the viewer squarely in the middle of the

"unknown" and through the careful placement of its sound effects,

makes one worry about what is about to happen next.   There is

a decent amount of LFE activity here, though not as boomy as

I would have expected.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island arrives as a 3-disc (Blu-ray

3D+Blu-ray+DVD+Ultraviolet) combo pack housed in a lenticular

cardboard sleeve.  Special Features on the Blu-ray include 

deleted scenes, a gag reel, and Interactive Adventure guided 

by star Josh Hutcherson who gives survival tips skills of 

surviving Mysterious Island.

CONCLUSION

In all, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is the mindless, fun

adventure movie you would expect it to be.  Personally, I was

rather disappointed that it was dumbed down into a kid-friendly

action film that presented very little sense of peril or suspense.

On the other hand, the gorgeous transfer combined with often

breathtaking 3D photography and effects makes this a bearable

watch for adults, while viewing with their family.  I would argue 

that the 3D is played a little too safely here by not taking full advantage

of the technology with more pronounced projectile effects -- but in

all, I would suppose this is one of the better 3D presentations around.

Images are for illustrative purpose only not representative of the picture quality of this disc. 

Equipment

LG 60PX950 THX Certified 3D display

Oppo BDP-93 3D Blu-ray Player

Denon 3311CI Receiver

Atlantic Technology H-PAS AT-1 fronts, 4400 center; 4200 rear speakers

SV Sound Subwoofer